Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Pedals/Shoes

Don't you hate it when you are outdated and have no clue? I have pedal/shoe issues. My bike and shoes were hand me downs from my brother. I love my bike, but the shoes are not exactly...feminine. So I have been on a shoe hunt for awhile. I impulsively bought a pair of Carnac shoes off of ebay that I love and they fit perfectly....except they are old ones that require adapter plates which I finally hunted down and ordered. I got the ones for SPD's, but when I got them...they did not look quite right. Apparently I have an old type of two screw SPD's?

Please forgive my ignorance here....I know nothing about pedals or cleats. I thought all SPD's were the same but after a google hunt I realize I was wrong. So, so wrong. So basically I am going to need new shoes, cleats, and pedals? I have no clue what kind of pedals to get. Shoes should be simple and I have had my eye on a pair at the bike store....but the pedals are making me stop and think. Suggestions? What do you guys ride in?

I will be doing some looking at the bike stores, but I need a place to start. Not to mention the fact last time I went to one of the bike stores to look at shoes, the guy looked me up and down and then asked if I need shoes for spin class. I probably should not have taken offence to this but I kind of did. I informed him that they were for my road bike and he looked visibly startled. Seriously, I realize I am not thin and lithe like most cyclists, but that is really not a good reaction for a store clerk to ever have. Ever. I have not been back to that store since. Luckily, there are several others and when I go looking time, I want to know exactly what to say and what to ask for so even though I may not look like a typical cyclist, I can at least sound like a knowledgeable one! The Hotter N Hell 100 also has a huge consumer show so I am thinking that I could always pick up stuff there as a reward for finishing the race!

5 comments:

That bike shop guy was an idiot. Anyway, I like Speedplay pedals. The cleats have adjustable "float," which means you can adjust the amount the cleat lets your heel move left and right. And, as with SPDs, you can clip in on either side. However, if you don't like walking around in cleats (some people get nervous bc they're so slippery), Look makes a "grip cleat" for their Keo pedals in which the cleat has a bit of rubberized material on the bottom so you don't slide around. As for shoes, I'm partial to Sidi.

i love my shimano ultegra pedals! they have a wide base which allows for more power exchange on both the down and upstrokes. i also have shimano shoes - and i bit the bullet and spent a lot on them. it was SOOOOO worth it though - i feel like i'm in slippers on the bike with them. if you're serious about sticking on the triahtlon train - i would make sure that the shoes you buy only have one strap vs. two/three because it is helpful (i.e. faster) in transition. hope that helps!

Sorry about the bike shop kook! I am with you on the pedal/shoes thing... until just last year I found out my pedals are speedplay, I always just called them lolly pop's because that is what they look like to me! I love my sidi shoes, they have some girlie ones and they make for ultra fast transitions. I only got hooked on them because all the chicks in the Olympics wear them and I wanted to be fast like them. Have fun shoe shopping!

First of all - take a look at women cyclists - at the pro level - they are not all exactly thin and lithe. I won't drop any names but cyclists come in all different shapes and sizes and the ladies with the power are hardly petite. Some of the best riders are the most unassuming. I had the exact same encounter on my first shoe shop experience. I just smirked because I knew I could drop his ass in Spin and on the road. I use Look Keo Pedals on my road bike. The Keo's have a strip that I think is silicon or something that makes it very easy to click out of. I've never used SPD's. I have egg beaters on my cross bike and they are really easy to get out of. They have less of/no platform so not sure how I would like them on the road. I use Sidi shoes. Sidi actually makes a shoe for tri people - has a liner or something so you can avoid socks. Terry carries it.

Memorable

"I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammeled womanhood." - Susan B. Anthony 1896